Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch addresses a press conference — Radio Pakistan/File

 

Pakistan Hopes US Congress Will Play a Supportive Role in Strengthening Ties

Islamabad: After the United States House of Representatives raised objections on Pakistan's 2024 nationwide polls via passing a resolution, the Foreign Office (FO) rejected the claims and termed it the former's "incomplete understanding of the country’s electoral process".

“Pakistan has taken note of the passage of the House Resolution 901 by the US House of Representatives on June 25,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in response to media queries on Wednesday.

She said, “We believe that the timing and context of this particular resolution does not align well with the positive dynamics of our bilateral ties, and stems from an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan.”

Pakistan, she said, believes in constructive dialogue and engagement based on mutual respect and understanding.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is among those opposing the results of the polls after its candidates faced immense hurdles in their run-up to their participation in the vote, leading them to participate as independent candidates and being deprived of their iconic bat symbol following a legal battle with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Responding to the allegations, the FO spokesperson said, “Pakistan, as the world’s second-largest parliamentary democracy and fifth-largest democracy overall, is committed to the values of constitutionalism, human rights and rule of law in pursuance of our own national interest.”

Such resolutions, she further said, are therefore neither constructive nor objective. "We hope that the US Congress will play a supportive role in strengthening Pakistan-US ties and focus on avenues of mutual collaboration that benefit both our peoples and countries,” Baloch concluded. - The News